Device for testing and/or capping of glass bottles

ABSTRACT

A device for testing and/or capping of glass bottles has an upright cylinder which is reciprocable in a holder and a piston which is reciprocable in the cylinder and tracks a stationary cam in response to rotation of the holder so that the piston moves axially downwardly and pushes the cylinder toward a bottle through the intermediary of helical springs. The cylinder carries a ram which bears against the mouth of a bottle while the piston moves downwardly whereby a satisfactory bottle arrests the ram and the cylinder while the piston continues to move downwardly in order to stress the springs. If the bottle breaks, the springs expand and abruptly propel the cylinder against a shock absorber which is inserted between a cap on the cylinder and an arm of the holder to cushion the impact of the cylinder.

waited States Patent B15111 1 Sept. 3, 11974 [54] DEVICE FOR TESTING AND/0R CAPPING 3,628,379 12 1971 Babunovic 73 94 01F GLASS BGTTLES Walter Biihl, Vehlen, Germany Flrma Hermann Heye, Albe, Germany Filed: July 1, 1971 Appl. No.: 158,675

Inventor:

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data July 3, 1970 Germany 2033031 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1936 Markus et a1 53/368 11/1968 Phillips 9/1969 Heyman 73/94 Primary Examiner-Jerry W. Myracle Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Michael S. Striker [57] ABSTRACT A device for testing and/or capping of glass bottles has an upright cylinder which is reciprocable in a holder and a piston which is reciprocable in the cylinder and tracks a stationary cam in response to rotation of the holder so that the piston moves axially downwardly and pushes the cylinder toward a bottle through the intermediary of helical springs. The cylinder carries a ram which bears against the mouth of a bottle while the piston moves downwardly whereby a satisfactory bottle arrests the ram and the cylinder while the piston continues to move downwardly in order to stress the springs. If the bottle breaks, the springs expand and abruptly propel the cylinder against a shock absorber which is inserted between a cap on the cylinder and an arm of the holder to cushion the impact of the cylinder.

15 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDSE? 31974 smart 10$ 4 INVENTOR Walter BOHL Fig. I B

his ATTORNEY ATENTED 35? 31974 SHEET 201 4 700 IINVIENTQR 703 WalterBOHL his ATTORNEY FATENIEDSEP 3W I 3,832,892

SHEET 3 05 Fig. 3

/NVENTOR Walter BOHL his A TTOR NEY ATENTEU 31974 3.832.892

saw u as 4 Fig. 6 60\ r30 70 105 IN VENTOR Walter BOHL m; ATTORNEY DEVICE FOR TESTING AND/OR CAPEWG OF GLASS BOTTLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to improvements in apparatus for testing, capping and/or analogous treatment of bottles or similar hollow articles, especially for the testing and/or capping of bottles which consist of glass or other brittle material.

It is already known to provide a bottle capping apparatus with several discrete bottle capping devices which can apply to glass bottles crown corks or analogous sealing elements. Each bottle capping device comprises a cylinder which is reciprocable in a holder and carries a capping tool serving to apply the cap to a bottle which is located below the capping device. The cylinder is moved toward the bottle by a piston which is pushed downwardly in response to movement of the capping device with reference to a stationary cam and the piston transmits motion to the cylinder by way of one or more springs. If a bottle breaks during the application of a cap, the spring or springs are free to expand and abruptly propel the cylinder downwardly so that the latter strikes against the holder and is likely to be damaged or destroyed. Therefore, such capping devices employ very sturdy and bulky cylinders as well as sturdy and bulky holders which are designed to normally withstand the impacts that develop when a bottle breaks while the spring or springs between the piston and the cylinder are maintained in a highly stressed condition. In spite of such design of the capping device, its parts as well as the holders for the cylinders and the cam or cams are likely to undergo permanent deformation in response to repeated impacts on breakage of defective bottles in the course of a capping operation. Moreover, the energy requirements of the apparatus increase proportionally with the mass of its moving parts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTTON An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved device which can be used for testing, sealing and/or analogous treatment of bottles or similar hollow articles which are likely to break in response to the application of axially oriented stresses during testing and- /or during the application of caps.

Another object of the invention is to provide the sealing or testing device with novel means for preventing damage to its component parts in response to rapid dissipation of energy by one or more springs which are being stressed in the course of a sealing or testing operation and are free to dissipate large amounts of energy in response to destruction or excessive defonnation of a defective bottle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a testing or capping device which can be used, either singly or in groups of two or more, in presently known apparatus for the testing and/or capping of bottles consisting of glass or other brittle material.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a testing or sealing device for glass bottles or the like with novel means which absorb energy in response to breakage of bottles during treatment.

The invention is embodied in a device which serves to apply axial pressure to glass bottles or analogous articles which, when defective, are likely to break or to undergo excessive deformation in response to the application of axial pressures which must be withstood by satisfactory articles. The device comprises a holder which can be mounted for rotary movement about a vertical axis, a support which is spaced from the holder and can support an article in registry with the holder, a cylinder member, a piston member which is reciprocably received in the cylinder member, means provided on the holder for confining at least one of such members to movements in a first direction toward and in a second direction away from the support, resilient motion transmitting means (such as one or more strong helical springs) interposed between the two members to move one of the members (e. g., the cylinder member) in the first direction in response to movement of the other member in such first direction (the other member can be moved in the first direction by a stationary cam in response to rotation of the holder), and a pressure applying element provided on the one member to apply axial pressure to an article on the support in response to movement of the other member in the first direction whereby the motion transmitting means stores energy not later than when the other member begins to move in the first direction with reference to the one member when an article on the support prevents further movement of the pressure applying element and of the one member in the first direction. This results in a rise of pressure which is being applied to the article and in sudden dissipation of energy by the motion transmitting means when an article ceases to oppose further movement of the pressure applying element in the first direction, e.g., when a glass bottle breaks. Such sudden dissipation of energy results in abrupt acceleration of the one member by the motion transmitting means. In order to avoid damage to the components of the device, the latter further comprises yieldable shock absorber means which is interposed between the holder and the one member to intercept the one member during dissipation of energy.

If desired or necessary, a second resilient motion transmitting means can be interposed between the one member and the pressure applying element to store energy as soon as the pressure applying element is arrested by an article on the support while the one member continues to share the movement of the other member in the first direction because the first mentioned motion transmitting means is preferably stronger than the second motion transmitting means. When the second motion transmitting means dissipates energy in response to breakage or excessive deformation of an article on the support, the resulting abrupt relative movement between the one member and the pressure applying element is terminated by a cushioning device which is preferably mounted in such a way that it undergoes deformation during the last stage of relative movement between the one member and the pressure applying element in response to dissipation of energy by the second motion transmitting means.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved testing or capping device itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is an axial sectional view of an apparatus embodying several devices which are used to test bottles or analogous hollow articles and are constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged axial sectional view of a single testing device which is shown in its idle position;

FIG. 3 illustrates the testing device of FIG. 2 in its operative position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged axial sectional view of the pressure applying element at the lower end of the cylinder member in the testing device shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a detail in the testing device of FIG. 2, showing the construction of a first embodiment of a yieldable shock absorbing device; and

FIG. 6 is an axial sectional view of a modified shock absorbing device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown an apparatus for testing the strength of bottles 103 or analogous hollow articles consisting of vitreous material. The apparatus includes a base I0 supporting a hollow housing 11 and a hollow upright column 13 which is located centrally of the housing 11. The upper portion of the housing 11 is provided with an antifriction bearing 15 for a rotary tubular carrier 17. The means for rotating the carrier 17 comprises a worm 19 which is driven by a motor 19a and a worm wheel 20 which meshes with the worm I9 and is provided on or secured to the lower end portion of the carrier 17.

The median portion of the carrier 17 supports a conveyor here shown as a turntable 23 which is secured to the carrier for rotation about the axis of the column 13. The carrier 17 surrounds the column 13 and its turntable 23 is provided with several inlaid plate-like inserts 24, 25, (only two shown) which serve as supports for discrete bottles I03 while the bottles are being tested for resistance to axially oriented compressive stresses. The inserts or supports 24, 25,... can be made of hard rubber or the like. As a rule, the turntable 23 supports an annulus of several inserts which are preferably equidistant from each other and transport bottles 103 from a first transfer station where the bottles are deposited onto the turntable 23 to a second transfer station where the bottles are removed from the turntable after completing a movement along an arc of less than 360. For example, the turntable 23 can rotate adjacent to the upper stretch of a belt or chain conveyor which delivers bottles 103 to the first transfer station and receives tested bottles at the second transfer station. Pushers, tongs, claws, synchronized pocket wheels or like transfer members can be provided at the first and second transfer stations to respectively transfer successive bottles I03 onto successive inserts or supports of the tumtable at the first station and to return tested bottles 103 from successive inserts or supports of the turntable 23 onto the conveyor at the second transfer station.

Each of the inserts 24, 25, on the turntable 23 registers with a discrete testing device of the apparatus. FIG. I merely shows two testing devices 29, which respectively register with the inserts 24 and 25. The testing devices 29, 30 have cylinders 40 which are axially movably mounted in holders 33, 34. These holders are axially adjustably secured to the carrier 17 so as to share all rotary movements of the turntable 23 and inserts or supports 24, 25, of the turntable. Thus, each holder is axially spaced from the respective support.

The means for adjusting the axial positions of holders 33, 34 on the carrier 17 comprises a nut 37 which meshes with an externally threaded portion 38 of the carrier 17 at a level about the turntable 23. As shown, the holders 29, 30 have lower end faces which rest on the upper end face of the nut 37; thus, the axial position of the nut 37 determines the distance between the inserts or supports on the turntable 23 and the holders 33, 34.

The following part of the description will deal with the details of the testing device 29 which is identical with the testing device 30 as well as with other testing devices of the illustrated apparatus. The testing device 29 comprises the aforementioned holder 33 and a cylinder 40 (see also FIGS. 2 and 3) which surrounds an axially reciprocable piston 41. The latter is telescoped into the cylinder 40 and is rigid with a supporting arm 43 for an upper roller follower 46 and a lower roller follower 45. The roller followers 46, are rotatable about horizontal axes which extend radially of the column l3 and these roller followers are respectively located at the upper side and at the underside of a stationary but adjustable cam 49. The cam 49 is configurated in such a way that it can cause the piston 41 to move up or down in response to rotation of the testing device 29 about the axis of the column 13. This cam constitutes the outwardly extending lower end portion or flange of a bell-shaped member 50 which is axially adjustably secured to the column 13 so that it can be moved to a plurality of levels, depending on the height of tested bottles 103 and on the extent of compressive stresses which should be transmitted to bottles in the course of the testing operation. An axially parallel key 51 extends into aligned flutes of the column 13 and member 50 to permit movements of the member 50 in the axial direction of the column but to hold the member 50 against rotation.

The means for releasably coupling the member 50 with its cam 49 to the column K3 in a selected axial position comprises a radially expandible annular coupling element 57 provided on the upper end of the column 13 and received in the axial bore of the upwardly extending hub 50a of the member 50, a conical coupling element 56 which is secured to the upper end portion of a rod extending axially through the interior of the column 13, mating bevel gears 53 one of which is mounted on the lower end portion of the rod 55, and a lever 53a which can be pivoted to rotate the other bevel gear. When the lever 53a is pivoted from the illustrated normal position, the bevel gears 53 cause the upper end portion of the rod 55 to rise together with the conical coupling element 56 so that the elastically deformable portions of the coupling element 57 on the column 13 are free to move radially inwardly and to permit axial adjustment of the member 50 and its cam 49. When the cam 49 has been moved to a desired axial position, the level 53a is pivoted to the illustrated position whereby the rod 53 moves the conical coupling element 56 downwardly to expand the coupling element 57 on the column 13 into strong frictional engagement with the hub 50a of the member 50 to thus insure that the cam 49 remains in the selected axial position.

FIG. 2 illustrates the testing device 29 in its fully extended or idle position. The upper roller follower 46 on the arm 43 of the piston 41 abuts against the upper side of the cam 49 so that the roller follower 46 supports the entire testing device 29 save for the holder 33. The upper end portion of the cylinder is provided with external threads mating with the internal threads of a nut or cap having an annular internal shoulder 61 for the upper end face of the piston 41. The cap 60 is provided with a central opening or cut-out for the arm 43 of the piston 41.

The piston 41 is hollow and its upper end portion accommodates a cupped retainer 63 for the upper most convolutions of two strong coaxial helical motion transmitting springs 65, 66 whose lower end convolutions extend into a recess 67 in a transverse wall of the cylinder 40. It is preferred to insert the motion transmitting springs 65, 66 with at least some initial stress so that they bear against the retainer 63 and against the transverse wall of the cylinder 40 even if the testing device 29 is free to assume the fully extended or idle position of FIG. 2.

The cylinder 40 comprises an upper tubular portion 70 which accommodates the piston 41 and the prestressed motion transmitting springs 65, 66 and a lower tubular portion 71 which is coupled to the upper portion 70 by a ring-shaped nut 73. The upper portion 70 of the cylinder 40 is axially movable in an upper arm 75 of the holder 33 and the lower portion 71 is axially movably supported by a lower arm 76 of the holder 33. As shown in FIG. 2, the peripheral surface of the lower tubular portion 71 of the the cylinder 40 is provided with an axially parallel flute or groove for a portion of a key 79 which further extends into a flute or groove 78 of the arm 76 so that the portion, 71 is held against rotation with reference to the holder 33.

The upper end of the tubular portion 71 of the cylinder 40 is threadedly connected with a cupped retainer 80 for a helical motion transmitting spring 81. The lower end face of the tubular portion 71 abuts against an end face of a guide sleeve or bearing sleeve 83 which is secured to the portion 71 by one or more screws or analogous fasteners. The sleeve 83 serves to guide the shaft 84 of a pressure applying element or tool 85. The upper portion of the shaft 84 has a blind bore 86 for reception of the lower part of the motion transmitting spring 81. An external flange 89 at the upper end of the shaft 84 serves as a retainer for the uppermost convolution of a helical cushioning spring 90 which bears against the upper end face of the sleeve 83.

The lower end portion of the shaft 84 is tapped and receives the externally threaded stem or shank 93 of a testing member or ram 95 forming part of the pressure applying tool 85. A protective bellows 97 surrounds the lower portion of the shaft 84 between the sleeve 83 and the ram 95. The purpose of the bellows 97 is to protect the shaft 84 against fragments of glass bottles in the event of breakage in response to pressures which are applied by the ram 95. The underside of the ram 95 is provided with a sealing plate or disk 100 which can consist of hard synthetic or natural rubber or like elastomeric material. The plate 100 can be moved into sealing engagement with the top face of the mouth 101 of a bottle 103 which rests on the insert or support 24 of the turntable 23.

The upper arm 75 of the holder 33 has an annular upper surface 105 serving as a support for a ringshaped yieldable damping or shock absorbing device 107 the details of which are shown in FIG. 5. The shock absorbing device 107 comprises a lower retaining ring 108, an upper retaining ring 109, several packages of dished springs which are inserted into matching recesses of the retaining rings 108, 109 (FIG. 2 merely shows two packages 111, 112 of dished springs and FIG. 5 merely shows the package 112), and adjustable tensioning bolts or screws which are movable axially of the upper ring 109 and mesh with the lower ring 108. The shanks of the screws 115 extend through central passages of the corresponding packages of dished springs. Thus, the screws 115 serve to center the respective packages of dished springs as well as to change the width of the annular clearance 129 between the end faces of the retaining rings 108 and 109 and to thus change the stress upon the springs. As shown in FIG. 5, the springs 112 bias an internal shoulder of the upper ring 109 against the head of the illustrated tensioning screw 115 so that, by rotating the screw 115, the operator can cause the upper ring 109 to move toward or away from the lower ring 108 and to thus select the width of the clearance 129. For example, the shock absorbing device 107 on the upper surface 105 of the arm 75 can be provided with an annulus of six equidistant packages of dished springs. If desired, the lower ring 108 of the shock absorbing device 107 can be omitted; the dished springs then bear directly against the upper surface 105 and the stems of the screws 115 mesh with the upper arm 75 of the holder 33. The illustrated shock absorbing device 107 rests on the surface 105 irrespective of the axial position of the cylinder 10 of the testing device 29 with reference to the carrier 33. This is achieved by selecting the internal diameters of the rings 108, 109 in such a way that they surround the cylinder 40 with at least some clearance and need not move up and down in response to axial displacements of the cylinder.

FIG. 3 illustrates the testing device 29 in its fully contracted or compressed position. Thus the lower end face 160 of the cap 60 on the upper tubular portion 70 of the cylinder 40 is immediately adjacent to or abuts against the upper retaining ring 109 of the shock absorbing device 107.

FIG. 4 illustrates on a larger scale the lower portion of the testing device 29, namely, the construction of the pressure applying tool 85. The sealing plate 100 is received in a recess provided in the underside of the ram 95 and is held in such recess by a ring which is secured to the ram 95 by screws 121. The upper end portion of the bellows 97 is sealingly secured to the guide sleeve 83 by a clamping sleeve 123 and the lower end portion of the bellows is sealingly secured to the ram 95 by a clamping ring 124.

Referring again to FIG. 5, the annular clearance 129 between the retaining rings 108, 109 of the shock absorbing device 107 will be established by the next prestressed packages of dished springs (see the package 1 12) as long as the cap 60 remains spaced from the ring 109 as well as when the end face of the cap 60 bears against the ring 109 with a pressure which cannot overcome the force of the dished springs.

FIG. 6 illustrates a portion of a modified yieldable damping or shock absorbing device 130. This device comprises a lower retaining ring 131 which abuts against the upper surface 105 of the upper arm 75 of the holder 33, an upper retaining ring 132, several sets 135 (only one set shown) of coaxial helical springs 137, 138 which extend into aligned recesses of the rings 131, 132, and adjustable tensioning screws or bolts 140 which mesh with the lower ring 131 and extend with clearance through registering holes or bores of the upper ring 132. The springs 137, 138 bias the upper ring 132 against the heads of the bolts 140 so that, when the cap 60 is remote from the upper ring 132, the rings 131, 132 define an annular clearance 143. The shock absorbing device 130 of FIG. 6 may comprise a substantial number of equidistant bolts 140 and an equal or different number of spring sets 135. A comparison of FIGS and 6 will indicate that the radial dimensions of the shock absorbing device 131) exceed the radial dimensions of the shock absorbing device 107. This is due to the fact that the packages 111, 1 12, of dished springs normally occupy less room than the helical springs 137, 138 and tensioning bolts 140, especially if the bolts 1411 are not coaxial with the springs 137, 138. The operation:

lt is assumed that a fresh bottle 103 has been transferred onto the support 24 of the turntable 23 and that the parts of the corresponding testing device 29 assume the positions shown in FIG. 2. The turntable 23 is rotated with the carrier 17 by the motor 19a, and such movement is shared by the holder 33 whereby the arm 43 of the piston 41 in the cylinder 40 of the testing device 29 moves lengthwise of the cam 49. The configuration of the cam 19 is such that, when the testing device 29 moves from the first transfer station (where a fresh bottle 103 is placed onto the support 24) toward the second transfer station, the roller follower 16 of the arm 13 rolls along a downwardly sloping portion of the upper face of the cam or the roller follower of the arm 43 bears against a downwardly sloping portion of the lower face of the cam 49 whereby the cam causes the piston 41 to move downwardly, namely, toward the support 24. Such movement of the piston 41 is transmitted to the cylinder 41) by the motion transmitting springs 65, 66 so that the members 40, 11 move in unison and the cylinder 411 causes the ram 95 of the pres sure applying tool 85 to move its sealing plate 101) toward the upper end face of the mouth 101 of the bottle 163 on the support 24. As soon as the plate 101) reaches the mouth 101 and the members 40., 41 continue to move downwardly, e.g., under the action of the roller follower 45 which continues to track a downwardly sloping portion of the face at the underside of the cam 49, the motion transmitting spring 81 (whose resistance to deformation is less than that of the motion transmitting springs 65, 66 between the members 40, 41) begins to yield so that the ram 95 is at a standstill while the cylinder 40 continues to move downwardly. Therefore, the upper portion of the shaft 84- of the pressure applying tool 35 penetrates into the lower tubular portion '71 of the descending cylinder 40 and the motion transmitting spring 81 continues to store energy. The relative movement between the cylinder 30 and shaft 34 is terminated when lower end face 153 of the bearing sleeve 83 for the shaft 84 comes into abutment with the annular upper surface 156 of the ram 95. This is shown in F108. 3 and 4. The exact moment when the lower roller follower 15 comes into abutment with the face at the underside of the cam 69 depends on the dimensioning of the component parts of the testing device 29. For example, the upper roller follower 46 can roll along the cam 49 so that the parts of the testing device descend by gravity until the plate 160 of the ram comes into abutment with the mouth 101 of a bottle 103 on the support 2 1.

The roller follower 15 of the arm 43 continues to track a downwardly sloping portion of the face at the underside of the cam 19 after the end face 153 of the bearing sleeve 83 reaches the annular surface of the ram 95. Therefore, the piston 41 starts to move downwardly with reference to the cylinder 60 which is held against further movement toward the support 24 whereby the motion transmitting springs 65, 66 begin to store energy and the axial pressure which is exerted by the sealing plate of the ram 95 against the mouth 1111 of the bottle 1113 on the support 24 rises. The downward movement of the piston 41 is terminated in a predetermined but variable axial position of the piston, i.e., in an axial position which suffices to insure a requisite stressing of the motion transmitting springs 65, 66, namely, a stressing which results in the application of the bottle 103 of an axial pressure indicating that the bottle is satisfactory if it does not yield to the pressure and breaks before or at the time when the cam 49 causes the piston 41 to reach its lower end position. The lower face of the cam 49 thereupon begins to slope upwardly so that the springs 65, 66 begin to expand and push the piston 411 upwardly. Once the springs 65, 66 expand and the cam 49 continues to move the arm 43 and the piston 11 upwardly, the cylinder 40 begins to move with the piston 11 in a direction upwardly and away from the bottle 103 so that the motion transmitting spring 31 is free to expand. During the last stage of expansion of the spring 81, the cushioning spring 911 begins to lift the pressure applying tool 85 so that the sealing plate 161) moves away from the mouth 101 not later than when the support 24 reaches the second transfer station at which the freshly tested bottle 103 is removed to provide room for a further bottle which is transferred onto the support 24!- when the latter reaches the first transfer station.

If a bottle 103 on the support 24 is defective so that it cannot stand the pressure which is being applied thereto by the sealing plate 101) while the piston 61 moves downwardly with simultaneous stressing of the motion transmitting springs 65, 66, the bottle will break and will permit abrupt downward movement of the cylinder 10 because the springs 65, 66 are free to suddenly dissipate a substantial amount of energy. The lower end face 160 of the rapidly descending cap 66 on the cylinder 61) is propelled against the upper ring 1119 of the yieldable shock absorbing device 107 or against the upper ring 132 of the shock absorbing device 130. The shock absorbing device 107 or 1311 brings about a deceleration of the descending cylinder 46 with attendant stressing of springs 111, 112 or 137, 133 and a reduction in the width of the clearance 129 or 143. Thus the shock absorbing device 107 or 130 prevents a sudden impact of the cap 641 directly against the arm '75 of the holder 33 and thus reduces the likelihood of-damage to the component parts of the testing device 29 and to the cam 69.

The relatively weak motion transmitting spring 81 is free to rapidly dissipate energy simultaneously with abrupt dissipation of energy by the stronger motion transmitting springs 65, 66. Therefore, the pressure applying tool 85 is propelled downwardly to stress the cushioning spring 90 during the last stage of its movement toward the fully extended position. Thus, the spring 90 performs a function which is analogous to that of the shock absorbing device 107 or 130; it protects the component parts of the testing device against excessive stressing during rapid dissipation of energy by the motion transmitting spring 81.

It is clear that the shock absorbing device 107 or 130 can be installed between the piston 41 and the carrier 33 to prevent the piston 41 from striking against the carrier 33 in response to sudden dissipation of energy by the motion transmitting springs 65, 66 in the event of breakage of a defective bottle 103 on the support 24. Such mounting of the shock absorbing device 107 or 130 would necessitate relatively minor and obvious modifications in the construction of the testing device 29, i.e., the piston 41 would carry the pressure applying tool 85 and the follower means 45, 46 would be provided on the cylinder 40.

The operation of the testing device 30 and of other testing devices in the apparatus of FIG. 1 is analogous to the just described operation of the testing device 29. Thus, each such testing device registers with a discrete support for bottles on the turntable 23 and transmits to such bottles an axially oriented pressure during transport of bottles about the axis of the column 13 from the first to the second testing station.

It is further clear that the apparatus of HG. 1 and its devices 29, 30 can be used with equal advantage for the application of crown corks or other types of caps in bottle capping and like apparatus. The tools 85 are then replaced with tools which can accept and apply caps to the neck portions of bottles during transport of such bottles on the supports of the turntable 23 from the first to the second transfer station. Whenever a bottle is defective and breaks in response to the application of an axial pressure which must be withstood by a satisfactory bottle during capping, the shock absorbing devices 107 or 130 and the cushioning springs 90 perform the aforedescribed functions so as to reduce the likelihood of damage to the devices 29, 30, in response to dissipation of energy by the motion transmitting springs 65, 66 and 81.

The illustrated apparatus can be used with particular advantage to test glass bottles prior to capping. The rams 95 of the devices 29, 30, then apply to the mouths 101 of bottles 103 a pressure which is at least as high as but preferably exceeds the pressure which the bottles must stand during capping. Such testing of bottles, especially of thin-walled glass bottles, is highly desirable prior to filling of bottles in order to insure that a defective bottle is destroyed before it reaches the filling station. This reduces waste in the flowable material which is being stored in the bottles and prevents contamination of the capping station. The improved shock absorbing and cushioning devices are of particular advantage in apparatus which are used to test bottles prior to filling and capping because the testing operation is carried out by applying to bottles axial pressures which must at least equal axial pressures developing during capping; therefore, the likelihood of breakage of bottles and of sudden dissipation of energy by the motion transmitting springs 65, 66 and 81 is more pronounced than in a capping apparatus which follows 7 the testing apparatus.

The purpose of the motion transmitting springs 81 is to insure rapid sealing of mouths 101 on bottles which are supported by the turntable 23, i.e., even before the springs 65, 66 begin to store additional energy in order to cause the application of substantial axial stresses. Such rapid sealing of bottles on the turntable 23 insures that, when a bottle happens to break, fragments of broken glass cannot penetrate into the mouths 101 of adjacent bottles because the mouths of such adjacent bottles are sealed by the plates 100 of the respective rams immediately or shortly after the bottles are transferred onto the turntable 23 at the first transfer station.

Rapid sealing of mouths 101 on bottles which are transferred onto the turntable 23 is particularly desirable when the cam 49 is designed to cause the pistons 41 of the testing devices to perform relatively long working strokes in a direction toward the bottles on the turntable. Since the deformation of springs 65, 66 begins during a later stage of downward movment of the piston 41, it is desirable to move the plate into sealing engagement with the adjacent mouth 101 shortly or immediately after a bottle is transferred onto the turntable 23 in order to avoid the penetration of fragments of a broken bottle into the mouths of adjoining bottles during the first stage of movement of the piston toward the respective support on the turntable.

Furthermore, rapid engagement of sealing plates 100 with the mouths 101 of registering bottles 103 (i.e., an engagement which follows practically immediately the transfer of a bottle onto the turntable 23) is desirable in order to insure that the bottles 103 cannot change their positions under the action of centrifugal force while they orbit about the column 13. The same applies for delayed disengagement of the sealing plate 100 with a freshly tested satisfactory bottle 103. Thus, the sealing plates 100 are preferably disengaged from the freshly tested satisfactory bottles shortly prior to removal of such bottles from the turntable at the second transfer station. Therefore, the turntable 23 need not be provided with specially designed locating or centering means for the bottles.

Still further, immediate engagement of sealing plates 100 with the registering bottles 103 on the turntable 23 and delayed disengagement of plates 100 from freshly tested satisfactory bottles insures that the bottles cannot change positions under the actions of jets of compressed air which are normally employed in bottle testing and/or capping apparatus to blow away fragments of broken glass so as to insure that a bottle which is transferred onto the turntable 23 at the first transfer station can assume an optimum position with reference to the respective testing device.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features which fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of my contribution to the art and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:

1. A device for applying axial pressure to glass bottles or analogous articles comprising a holder; a support spaced from said holder; a cylinder member; a piston member reciprocably received in said cylinder mem ber, said members being confined by said holder for movement in a first direction toward and in a second direction away from said support; moving means connected to one of said members for moving the same in said first direction between two end positions; resilient motion transmitting means interposed between said members to move the other member in said first direction from an idle position to an active position in response to movement of said one member in said first direction from a first end position to an intermediate position; pressure applying means provided on said other member for engaging an article on said support before said other member reaches said active position; said one member being movable in said first direction beyond said intermediate position to said second end position while the article on said support prevents further movement of said pressure applying means and said other member in said first direction so that said resilient motion transmitting means is compressed and applies pressure to said article, whereby when the article ceases to prevent further movement of said pressure applying means in said first direction, the compressed resilient motion transmitting means will expand to rapidly accelerate said other member in said one direction to move in said one direction beyond its active position; and yieldable shock absorber means for intercepting movement of said other member in said one direction beyond said active position.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for holding at least said cylinder member against rotation with reference to said holder.

3. A device as defined in claim I, wherein said pressure applying means is arranged to engage the mouth of an article on said support and said one member is movable toward said support to assume said second end position in which said element subjects the mouth of an article on said support to a pressure which, if withstood by the article, is indicative of a satisfactory article.

4. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said pres sure applying means comprises a ram having a sealing member consisting of elastomeric material and arranged to sealingly engage the mouth of an article on said support in response to movement of said one member toward said support.

5. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said yieldable shock absorber means is interposed between said other member and said holder.

6. A device as defined in claim 5, wherein said shock absorber means comprises an annulus of spring means.

'7. A device as defined in claim (5, wherein each of said spring means comprises a package of dished springs.

8. A device as defined in claim 6, wherein each of said spring means comprises at least one helical spring.

9. A device as defined in claim 6, wherein each of said spring means reacts against said holder and said shock absorber means further comprises a ring interposed between said other member and said spring means so that said spring means are stressed by said ring when the latter is engaged by said other member during dissipation of energy by said motion transmitting means.

10. A device as defined in claim 9, wherein said shock absorber means further comprises adjustable tensioning means for moving said ring with reference to said holder to thereby change the stress upon said spring means.

11. A device as defined in claim 6, wherein said shock absorber means further comprises a pair of rings one of which abuts against said holder and the other of which is located in the path of movement of said other member in response to dissipation of energy by said motion transmitting means, said spring means being disposed between said rings.

12. A device as defined in claim 11, further comprising adjustable tensioning means for moving one of said rings axially with reference to the other ring to thereby change the stress upon said spring means.

13. A device as defined in claim )1, wherein said pressure applying means is movable axially of said other member and further comprising second resilient motion transmitting means interposed between said other member and said pressure applying means to store energy in response to movement of said other member in said first direction while an article on said support holds said pressure applying means against movement with said other member.

14. A device as defined in claim 13, wherein the resistance of said first mentioned motion transmitting means to movement of said one members with reference to said other member in a direction toward said support exceeds the resistance of said second motion transmitting means to movement of said other member in said first direction with reference to said pressure applying means.

15. A device as defined in claim 14, further comprising yieldable cushioning means interposed between said pressure applying means and said other member to undergo deformation in response to the last stage of relative movement between said other member and said pressure applying means under the action of said second motion transmitting means. 

1. A device for applying axial pressure to glass bottles or analogous articles comprising a holder; a support spaced from said holder; a cylinder member; a piston member reciprocably received in said cylinder member, said members being confined by said holdeR for movement in a first direction toward and in a second direction away from said support; moving means connected to one of said members for moving the same in said first direction between two end positions; resilient motion transmitting means interposed between said members to move the other member in said first direction from an idle position to an active position in response to movement of said one member in said first direction from a first end position to an intermediate position; pressure applying means provided on said other member for engaging an article on said support before said other member reaches said active position; said one member being movable in said first direction beyond said intermediate position to said second end position while the article on said support prevents further movement of said pressure applying means and said other member in said first direction so that said resilient motion transmitting means is compressed and applies pressure to said article, whereby when the article ceases to prevent further movement of said pressure applying means in said first direction, the compressed resilient motion transmitting means will expand to rapidly accelerate said other member in said one direction to move in said one direction beyond its active position; and yieldable shock absorber means for intercepting movement of said other member in said one direction beyond said active position.
 2. A device as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for holding at least said cylinder member against rotation with reference to said holder.
 3. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said pressure applying means is arranged to engage the mouth of an article on said support and said one member is movable toward said support to assume said second end position in which said element subjects the mouth of an article on said support to a pressure which, if withstood by the article, is indicative of a satisfactory article.
 4. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said pressure applying means comprises a ram having a sealing member consisting of elastomeric material and arranged to sealingly engage the mouth of an article on said support in response to movement of said one member toward said support.
 5. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said yieldable shock absorber means is interposed between said other member and said holder.
 6. A device as defined in claim 5, wherein said shock absorber means comprises an annulus of spring means.
 7. A device as defined in claim 6, wherein each of said spring means comprises a package of dished springs.
 8. A device as defined in claim 6, wherein each of said spring means comprises at least one helical spring.
 9. A device as defined in claim 6, wherein each of said spring means reacts against said holder and said shock absorber means further comprises a ring interposed between said other member and said spring means so that said spring means are stressed by said ring when the latter is engaged by said other member during dissipation of energy by said motion transmitting means.
 10. A device as defined in claim 9, wherein said shock absorber means further comprises adjustable tensioning means for moving said ring with reference to said holder to thereby change the stress upon said spring means.
 11. A device as defined in claim 6, wherein said shock absorber means further comprises a pair of rings one of which abuts against said holder and the other of which is located in the path of movement of said other member in response to dissipation of energy by said motion transmitting means, said spring means being disposed between said rings.
 12. A device as defined in claim 11, further comprising adjustable tensioning means for moving one of said rings axially with reference to the other ring to thereby change the stress upon said spring means.
 13. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said pressure applying means is movable axially of said other member and further comprisIng second resilient motion transmitting means interposed between said other member and said pressure applying means to store energy in response to movement of said other member in said first direction while an article on said support holds said pressure applying means against movement with said other member.
 14. A device as defined in claim 13, wherein the resistance of said first mentioned motion transmitting means to movement of said one members with reference to said other member in a direction toward said support exceeds the resistance of said second motion transmitting means to movement of said other member in said first direction with reference to said pressure applying means.
 15. A device as defined in claim 14, further comprising yieldable cushioning means interposed between said pressure applying means and said other member to undergo deformation in response to the last stage of relative movement between said other member and said pressure applying means under the action of said second motion transmitting means. 